Pillow

[Dloshaw]

I was hoping anyone who has had the chiari surgery could give me some advice on what type of pillow they used. My surgery is 4-17-15. I am already having a very hard time sleeping. Does onyone know what pillow can help?

[Maithly16]

Obviously because I have already passed this situation.I know how much pain this gives.I had used memory foam pillows and it worked for me amazingly.You can also try this.Hope that it'll help you.

[selmaS]

  Oh....that is not good....wow...for that price I guess I expected it to be better.....

Hope you are able to adjust it a bit more for more comfort.

[Dloshaw]

Mine was in Las Vegas

[Dloshaw]

It is like the stuffing at build a bear but very easy to fall out of the pillow  and make a mess.

[Dloshaw]

Im still having pain and confusion and my memory is a joke. But dr Seiff is a great dr. My horrible symptoms are gone. My right arm is back to normal, my face doesn't tingle, my severe neck muscle spasms are gone.  Overall it was great. Excruciating buy great. How are you doing?

[Elisaandbucky]

I am just checking in on you as we had surgeries a few days apart. How are you resting and sleeping. Does the pillow allow you to get comfortable? I also use the neck pillow that Lottida described above. Mine came from TJMaxx and I love it as much as she says she loves hers.  The best thing about it is what Lottida says about being able to lay your head and the neck hole provides a place for where your incision is, without putting pressure on it.

[selmaS]

  Glad to hear it is working for you.....I still prefer not to sleep on my head.....I was under the impression it was adjustable.....in what way is the stuffing messy?

[Dloshaw]

I like the chiari pillow.  It does have a few flaws. I wish it had sections to adjust the pillow. And the stuffing is messy. Otherwise it's the absolutely only pillow I've been able to sleep on my head. I'm going to alter it and see if it's better.

[selmaS]

  Good luck with the pillow...look forward to your review : )

[Dloshaw]

I finally have deeded the chiari pillow. I'll ipdate how it works.  

[DSH519]

I wish I had known about those neck pillows with my surgery. My first night home post op I rolled ofer on my new incision.  I hope the pillows worked as I may have to have another surgery 14 great years later.

[Elisaandbucky]

Where are your surgeries? I have a fusion surgery on 4/15. It would be awesome to know if either of you were in the same hospital. I will be at North Shore Long Island Jewish medical center in Great Neck, NY.

[kwalker0004]

I haven't had surgery yet. I created a pillow that allows me to raise my chest up a little then it has a bump that cradles my neck and allow me to tilt my head back just a little. (I know they say we shouldn't do this) but it actually helps relieve tension if you have tight muscles around the back of skull. it also helps to relieve pressure from your head helping to relieve a headache. I sleep with it every night. Best of luck to the both on your surgeries. May you both have a safe and fast recovery period.

[selmaS]

  Dang the link did not show up...trying again-

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/search/257?utf8=%26%23x2713%3B&query=chiari+pillow

[Dloshaw]

Thank you all for your help

[Lottida]

Awesome thanks ZilZil.  I will go out to get wedge also prior to surgery!!

[selmaS]

  Here is a link to a list of threads on this topic....I am sure there is a link to the Health Pages pillow page in one of these threads....

[selmaS]

  There is a link in the Health Pages for the Chiari pillow...we have gotten mixed reviews on it...some like others do not..a pillow is very personal...as to which one is right for you just as selecting your Dr is very personal.

There is also a old thread you can locate to read using the search this community feature.

I like using a lumbar pillow by Homedics....it has memory foam and was a perfect size for me post op.....for travel in a car I used a very fluffy bed pillow which was called a reshape-able pillow at Target....only 10.00...much more affordable then the Chiari pillow.

[ZilZil]

Yes!  My husband got me a nice travel pillow that clipped and was completely adjustable.  I loved that thing; it almost became a security teddy during that time.  I also had a foam wedge that raised my torso up 10-15 deg that helped .

[Lottida]

I'm glad you asked.  My surgery is Thursday 4/2/15 for which I bought a travel neck pillow (which the ends snap together forming a circle) to allow me to lay my head on it with opened area over incision.  Not the one with beads in it, but one with comfort memory foam & cooling materials that I actually found at Ross department store.  Curious to see if this worked for anyone.  I also will use regular pillows to lie on each side of my head to help prevent turning of head in my sleep (I read that this helped on this forum somewhere....lol).